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nonprofit

PawSox initiative nets $75K for food bank

Posted:
Friday, November 29, 2013 4:55 am

By Patricia Daddona PBN Staff Writer

PROVIDENCE – The Pawtucket Red Sox posted a winning season for the third consecutive year in a row, and turned in a $75,000 contribution to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank as a result.

Through a unique partnership known as “Striking Out Hunger,” every strike-out by a PawSox pitcher earned a $75 contribution to the Rhode Island Community Food Bank from the Citizens Bank Foundation, up to a total of $75,000.

Cox Communications promoted the campaign throughout the season, and the PawSox pitchers did the rest, earning the maximum contribution by striking out more than 1,000 batters.

Since its inception in 2008, the Striking Out Hunger campaign has resulted in $500,000 in contributions from the Citizens Bank Foundation to the Food Bank.

“People don’t associate the summertime with hunger yet thousands of children in our state go hungry in the summer when access to school meal programs is not there,” said Kathy O’Donnell, head of public affairs for RBS Citizens Financial Group. “Through the bank’s Striking Out Hunger partnership with the PawSox and Cox Communications, we are able to provide critical funding and increased awareness during the summer to the RI Community Food Bank as they experience an increased need for food.”

Every month, more than 68,000 Rhode Islanders depend on the Food Bank’s statewide network of food pantries and meal sites to meet their basic food needs. One in three people served by the Food Bank is a child under the age of 18.

“Striking Out Hunger is a great example of great corporate citizenship by three organizations that really understand the level of need we have here in Rhode Island,” said Andrew Schiff, chief executive officer of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. “Citizens, the PawSox and Cox Communications exemplify what it means to work as a team toward the common goal of helping our neighbors when they are in need.”

“The PawSox family is proud to partner with Citizens Bank, Cox and the Rhode Island Community Food Bank to ensure that all families in need benefit and no one goes hungry in Rhode Island,” said Lou Schwechheimer, vice president and general manager of the baseball club.

John Wolfe, senior vice president and general manager of Cox Communications, added that the partnership “allows us to raise awareness while helping to end hunger in our state.”

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